News Anchor
Salary

One-half of News Anchors in the United States have been in the field for more than 10 years. Pay can fall anywhere from $30K to $129K per year, but median earnings come to around $57K annually. Overall cash earnings for News Anchors stretch from $30K on the lower end to $129K near the top, and the heftiest packages can encompass around $15K from bonuses and $50K from profit sharing. Location is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by tenure. Medical benefits are awarded to most, and a majority earn dental coverage. The majority of News Anchors claim high levels of job satisfaction. The information for this rundown comes from respondents who completed PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for News Anchor

The primary responsibility of a news anchor is to present current events to an audience through a news broadcast. A dedicated news program and a general commitment to objectivity distinguish an anchor from a newscaster, who presents brief, bulletin-style reports both between and during other programming, and a commentator, who provides analysis and opinion. As broadcast journalists, news anchors are often directly involved in the compiling, writing and editing of the material they later present on-air. Additionally, news anchors may act as a public face for their networks.

News anchor is an apex position in the field of broadcast journalism, the peak of achievement for many journalists who envision themselves in front of the camera. As such, the position requires at least an undergraduate degree in journalism or communications as well as several years of practical experience. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs typically offer students internship opportunities to help meet minimum requirements by graduation. Aspiring anchors apply for open positions with a reel, a collection of recorded work that represents their abilities and personalities the way a portfolio would for a writer or artist. As with broadcast journalists of all specialties, aspiring anchors expect to begin their careers in positions of limited power in the small media market before working their ways into bigger cities and more competitive jobs.

In addition to education and experience, an anchor must demonstrate a high level of poise in front of the camera, a professional appearance, excellent diction, an ability to collaborate with both an on-air partner and a sizable staff. While anchors typically read from a prepared script or teleprompter, an instinct for improvisation is necessary to interact with an ensemble of correspondents and guests. Additionally anchors are expected to collaborate with producers, who provide constant guidance throughout a broadcast through earpieces.

News Anchor Tasks

Cover breaking news stories in real time and follow along with updates.

Research and develop news stories from the idea stages to a written script.

Venture into the field to cover live events and unfolding stories as they happen.

Present both live and pre-recorded daily news stories in a professional manner on television.

Send timely updates via social media to engage the viewing audience and keep them informed.

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Pay by Experience Level for News Anchor

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

News Anchors with a rich background of experience are typically rewarded with larger paychecks. Those in the early stages of their career can expect to make around $42K; however, individuals with five to 10 years of experience bring in $58K on average — a distinctly larger sum. News Anchors bring in $65K after working for 10 to 20 years. News Anchors who have acquired more than 20 years of relevant experience earn significantly more than folks with fewer years on their resumes; the average income in this veteran group is $85K.

Pay Difference by Location

Above-average salaries for News Anchors can be found in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, the three largest cities in the United States. In Milwaukee, salaries are 10 percent below the national average and represent the lowest-paying market.

News Anchor Advice

What do you wish you knew about your job when you first started out?

News Anchor in Waco:

"Expect low pay and low morale starting off."

Being a news anchor is fun, rewarding work. My favorite part of the job is getting out in the community... Meeting people and attending events that benefit organizations that are important to the people in the broadcast area of the station. I also love breaking news. It's important to choose your station carefully. You can end up in a great environment with great mentors or a situation where you don't see room to grow or don't get feedback on your performance. Get a DVR from your cable/satellite company (this is a must) and watch yourself every week. Most anchors hate doing it, but it will make you a better anchor to see what you're doing wrong. Don't let anyone tell you can't be an anchor just because you don't have a lot of experience reporting in the field. If you work hard, do lots of internships and are talented... You'll get noticed. Don't jump ship right as your contract ends. Staying at a station for more than a few years looks good on the resume.